Process and apparatus for shrinking fabrics



Dec. 21, 1937. s, c u 2,102,942

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SHRINKING FABRICS Filed Sept. 21, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l lr'werziar filly.-

Dec. 21, 1937. s cLUETT 2,102,942

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SHRINKING FABRICS Filed Sept. 21, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l'rweiziar .5 07% L, J! l [@y I MM- $7.

Patented Dec. 21, 1937 Sanford L. Cluett, Troy, N. Y., assignor to Cluett, Peabody 82 00., Inc., Troy, N. Y., a corporation of New York application September 21, 1933, Serial No. 690,367

18 Claims.

The application relates to an improvement in process and apparatus for shrinking fabrics, especially adapted for' the treatment of fabrics for starched collars although capable of general use.

5 Particularly material for lining starched collars is advantageously treated by my improved processes, since this material has never been satisfactorily shrunk by previous wet processes, and allowances of one-half or one inch have had to 10 be made in each collar to allow for subsequent shrinkage in laundering at the factory.

It has long been known that various kinds of fabric could be shrunk to some extent by mechanical agitation, and while in a wet state; processes of fulling woolens customarily involve the subordinate effect of shrinkage. It can' be demonstrated that with a piece of unshrunk fabric, agitation thereof in a wet state usually tends to shrink it to a greater extent than mere im- 20 mersion of the piece in the water without agitation.

The present invention aims to provide an improved process and apparatus using agitation of wet fabric to promote shrinking, and to do this in a morecomplete and expeditious manner than in the past.

Known processes of fulling woolens are in general not advantageously constituted for use in shrinking such materials as for example collar 30 linings which do not have the fiber structure of woolens. The known fulling processes in general depend upon the marked tendency of woolen fibers to felt and render the fabric more compact, and such fulling processes act by kneading or hammering the fabric for the purpose primarily of bringing about such felting action. Plain cotton fabrics on the other hand do not assume the felted condition which is desired in 40 fulled woolen fabrics even though they may, and do usually, shrink materially. I have discovered that in the shrinking of many fabrics with the aid of agitation a marked improvement in both result and ease of operation can be obtained by the adoption of a procedure differing from customary fulling operations. Thus in shrinking such fabrics by my process I have found it unnecessary to manipulate the wet fabric by kneading or surface-pounding motions as in usual full- 50 ing, but have found that the agitationcan be more expeditiously made effective if from a continuous web of the fabric a mass of the wet fabric is allowed to accumulate in a slack condition in any suitable container, and therein rapidly oscillated. For example, the container may be a tank of width appropriate-to receive the fabric in a widthwise extended state and may have associated therewith entering and exit conveying rolls for a traveling web. For agitating the contents of the tank there may be pro- 5 vided a drive motor and connections to the tank or movable walls or a receptacle therein suitable to confine and impart a rapid reciprocating movement to theaccumulated fabric in the tank.

It seems logical to believe that the high degree of shrinkage obtained in my process may be attributed to the frequent, continued and abrupt reversals in motion of .the fabric without any substantial cushioning effect of air or water such that without substantial tension in the yarns there are rapidly recurrent shocks endwise, at least in part, of constituent yarns of the fabric. Obviously for the production ofsuch action my process permits a simpler and more effective application of agitating forces than in prior processes of fulling where means have been provided for kneading the fabric or for pounding it in directions generally normal or transverse to its surface. The process of this invention produces a shrunk fabric that is especially resistant to both shrinking and stretching.

The invention will now be further explained by reference to illustrated examples thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an agitating or beating tank useful in the process, certain driving parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig- 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5, is a diagrammatic side elevation of an alternate form of apparatus for practicing the process;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the perforated container of Fig. 5 surrounded by an outer receptacle for treating fluid.

In Figs. 1 to 4 there is shown a tank 20 into which the fabric from any suitable supply is fed by nipping drive rolls M, 22. The bottom 23 of the tank 20 is preferably provided with a slight downward slope to the opposite exit end, and a circulation of water or other treating liquid, such for example as a bleaching or sizing solution if desired, is induced by a pump 24 which takes the liquid from the exit end through pipe 25 and delivers it to the entrance end through pipe 26. The circulation of liquid thus induced serves to carry the fabric along through the tank, under no tension, to the exit end where suitable nipping drive rolls 28, 29

remove the fabric and deliver it to any suitable drying device, not shown.

Preferably the speeds of the pairs of drive rolls 2|, 22 and 28, 29 are adjustable by any suitable means, so that due allowance can be made for the longitudinal shrinkage of the fabric in the tank. In starting operation of the device, a considerable length of fabric is allowed to accumulate in the tank, so that a mass of fabric is carried along in the liquid in a folded or bunched form from which the fabric is continuously taken at the exit end. By suitably proportioning the length of accumulated fabric to the rate of feed into the tank, or withdrawal from the tank, the

length of treating time can be suitably regulated. It is preferable then to adjust the rate of fiow of liquid through the tank, as by valve 21, to such value that the fabric will be evenly distributed in the tank and reach the exit end without experiencing longitudinal drawing tension from the rolls 28, 29 during its progress along the tank.

Within the tank there is provided a pair of confining walls adapted to oscillate horizontally transverse to the path of progress of the fabric, thus to provide the desired rapid reversals of motion of the fabric under treatment. As best shown in plan in Fig. 1, the tank is bowed outwardly at its middle to provide space for the oscillation of two inner or false walls 35, 36. These are preferably perforated, so that they can slip easily through the liquid and the liquid can easily run through them thus preventing the liquid from exerting a cushioning effect on the blows delivered by the false walls and may be most conveniently formed of interfitted slat-like members 39, 40 (Fig. 3) pivotally connectedto the tank on vertical axes at M, 42, and suitably connected together at their interfltting ends as by pins and slots which permit the members 39, 40

of each false wall to swing in unison. These two walls are connected, by a link 45, which is pivotally connected to a link 46 reciprocated by the rotation of a crank pin 41, which may be driven from any suitable motion.

Upon reaching the middle of the tank, or whatever other part is occupied by the reciprocating mechanism such as the false walls 35, 36, the folded or massed fabric is subjected to a rapid transverse reciprocation and beating causing frequent and abrupt changes in motion of the fabric. The yarns of the fabric shorten an amount, which for many cotton fabrics is substantially more than the shrinkage resulting from mere wetting, and which for most fabrics will prevent any further shrinkage and stretching. The treatment received in passing this point thus appears to provide in respect to a continuous length of fabric the same shrinking eflect as repeated laundering of individual short pieces of fabric. In fabrics containing excessive or deleterious'quantitles of oils, waxes, or fillings not sufliciently removed by cold water treatment but likely to be removed or partially to disintegrate in laundering with attendant further shrinkage, the heating treatment here described can well include the use of hot water, or suitable laundry detergent adapted to reproduce in the shrinkage treatment the chemical and cleaning action of later laundry treatment of garments made from the fabric.

From the drive rollers 28, 29 by which it is removed from the tank, the fabric passes to any straint on such enlargement. I maintained in a very plastic state by its wetness suitable drier or finishing operation involving drying, care being taken not to stretch the fabric unduly in length until dry.

The modified apparatus of Fig. 5 is especially adapted for compactness and simplicity of construction. In this apparatus, pairs of drive rolls 2|, 22', and 28', 29 which correspond in function and general arrangement to rolls 2!, 22, 29, 29 of the other embodiment, are located close together and feed the fabric onto and out of a shaker box 5| which is pivoted at 52 to hang below these rolls. As in the other embodiment of the invention the fabric may come from any suitable supply, here indicated at 53 and may pass from the exit rolls 28', 29' to a suitable drier such as the traveling loop drier diagrammatically indicated at 55.

The shaker box 5| diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5 may be, for example, a perforated box of wire mesh or the like, in which case the fabric is previously wetted as by water or other treating fiuid put into the supply receptacle 53 or applied to the fabric on its way to the shaker box. Or if desired, the shaker box 5! may be perforated and enclosed by any suitable outer receptacle '56 adapted to hold the treating fluid, as indicated in Fig. 5. The shaker box is adapted, with any of these specific constructions, to confine and to impart a rapid beating to the mass of fabric accumulated therein, and for so actuating the box a crank pin 41', suitably driven, is connected to the box as by a link 46'. As in the preceding embodiment of the invention the folded or massed fabric is subjected to a rapid beating (here for example in a longitudinal direction) causing frequent and abrupt changes in motion of the fabric.

The rapidity of oscillation or beating of the fabric may be varied considerably to suit different conditions of the fabric under treatment. For example, I have impartedoscillations to the beater as high as about six complete cycles per second and have obtained a shrinkage of two and three-quarter inches per yard in 3.75 lining during one minute of such oscillation.

It will now readily appear that my process, involving a beating and agitation of continuous lengths of fabric improves substantially over those processes which agitate the fabric by kneading the web or pounding the surface of the web or by merely dashing a taut run of fabric into and out of a liquid, since in my process the agitation of the fabric is conducted in a manner which is more eflicient in regard to production of shrinkage and stability against stretching. As pointed out above, it seems evident that the rapid reversals of movement of the fabric have the direct effect of shortening yarns of the web. Further, it seems evident that if this type of shortening by direct action takes effect primarily in one system of the yarns, it has a secondary effect of producing full shrinkage in theopposite direction of the yarns. Shortening of the yarns of one of the yarn systems of the fabric naturally enlarges the diameters of the yarns of that system since substantially unaccompanied by any re- The fabric, being and continued agitation, is free to rearrange itself accordingly, and each yarn which is woven around a yarn which enlarges naturally assumes a more sinuous path. The effect is therefore to produce an equalization of the two systems of yarns. Thus while in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 the reciprocation is primarily in the weftwise direction V ofthe web, and in the embodiment of Fig. 5 is 75 primarily in the warpwise direction of the web,

in each case the web is subjected to stabilization in both dimensions.

A further advantage of the invention incident I that the word perforate" is intended to include an open or net-like construction, whether formed by a perforating action or otherwise.

I'claim: 1. -A process of shrinking a continuous web of fabric comprising depositing the web in a massed formation in a current of liquid adapted to convey the deposited web without tension, and as the current carries the web along, agitating the traveling web in a rapid oscillating motion having reversals so abrupt as to impart. violent blows thereto, to produce shrinkage thereof.

2. Apparatus for shrinking fabrics comprising a receptacle for a treating liquid, means for conveying a web of fabric into and out of the refat ceptacle, said conveying means being adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of the web in a substantially widthwise extended state in the liquid within the receptacle, inner perforate walls adapted to oscillate in the receptacle, and means for oscillating said walls rapidly back and forth through the liquid to strike the loose mass in rapid succession alternately from opposite sides.

3. Apparatus for shrinking fabrics'comprising a receptacle for a treating liquid, means for conveying a web of fabric into and out of the receptacle, said conveying means being adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of the web in a substantially widthwise extended state in the liquid within the receptacle, inner perforate longitudinal walls adapted to oscillate transversely of the direction of travel of the web in the receptacle, and means for oscillating said walls rapidly back and forth through the liquid to strike the loose mass in rapid succession alternately from opposite sides.

4. Apparatus for finishing fabrics comprising web conveying means adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of a continuous fabric web in a substantially widthwise extended state, means for confining said mass, means for maintaining the accumulated mass wet, and means for subjecting said confining means to repeated oscillations of siich rapidity as to strike the wet mass violent blows thereby to shrink the web.

5. Apparatus for finishing fabrics comprising web conveying means adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of a continuous fabric web in a substantially widthwise extended state, means for confining said mass, means for maintaining the accumulated mass wet, and means for subjecting said confining means to repeated cscillations of such rapidity as to strike the wet mass violent blows in a direction predominantly weftwise of the contained web thereby to shrink the web. l

6. Apparatus for finishing fabrics comprising web conveying means adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of a continuous fabric web in a substantially widthwise extended state, means for'confining said mass, means for maintaining the accumulated mass wet, and means for subjecting said confining means to repeated oscillations of such rapidity as to strike the wet mass violent blows in a direction predominantly warpwise of the contained web.

7. Apparatus for finishing fabrics comprising web conveying means adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of a continuous fabric web in a substantially widthwise extended state, a

perforate container adapted to receive and confine the accumulated mass, means-for maintaining the web wet, and means for subjecting the perforate container to repeated oscillations of such rapidity as to strike the wet mass violent blows to shrink the web. Y

8. Apparatus for shrinking a continuous web of fabric comprising a liquid container, means for creating a conveying current of liquid therein, means for feeding the web into and removing it from the conveying current in the container,

said means being adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of the web in said conveying current, and means for subjecting said-mass to oscillations predominantly transverse to its path of travel in said current.

9. Apparatus for shrinking a continuous web of fabric comprising a liquid container, means for creating a conveying current of liquid therein, means for feeding the web into and removing it from the conveying current in the container, said means being adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of the web in said conveying current, and means for subjecting said mass to horizontally directed oscillations predominantly transverse to its path of travel in said current.

10. Apparatus for shrinking textile fabrics comprising a receptacle for a treating liquid, means for conveying a web of fabric into and out of the receptacle, said conveying means being adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of the web in a substantially untwisted state in the liquid'within the receptacle, a perforate beating element in the receptacle, and means for rapidly oscillating said member through the liquid toward and away from the fabric mass to strike the mass violent blows.

11. Apparatus for shrinking textile fabrics comprising web-conveying means adapted for the accumulation of. a loose mass of a continuous fabric web in a substantially untwisted state, means for wetting the fabric, a perforate beater element, and means for oscillating said perforate beater element rapidly to strike the accumulated mass violent blows, thereby to shrink the web.

12. Apparatus for shrinking a continuous web of fabric comprising a liquid container, means for creating a conveying current of liquid therein,

means for feeding the web into and removing it from the conveying current in the container, and a perforate element arranged to beat the web while the latter is immersed in and conveyed by the liquid current.

13. Apparatus for shrinking a continuous web of fabric comprising a liquid container, means. for creating a conveying current of liquid therein, means for feeding the web into and removing it from the conveying current in the container, said means being adapted for the accumulation of a loose mass of the web in said conveying current, and a perforate element arranged to beat the web while the latter is immersed in and con-- veyed by the liquid current.

14. That method of shrinking woven fabric whose constituent yarns are substantially of vegetable origin, which. comprises as steps accumulating a length of the fabric in the form of a loose mass in which the web is in a widthwise extended state and subjecting the mass while wet to rapidly repeated violent blows, first in one direction and then in the other, the blows being directed predominantly weftwise of the web, thereby to shrink the web.

15. That method of shrinking woven fabric whose constituent yarns are substantially of. vegetable origin, which comprises as steps accumulating a length of the fabric in the form of a loose mass in which the web is in a widthwise extended state and subjecting the mass while wet to rapidly repeated violent blows, first in one direction and then in the other, the blows being directed predominantly warpwise of' the web, thereby to shrink the web.

16. That method of shrinking woven textile fabric whose constituent yarns are of substantially vegetable origin, which comprises as steps, causing a continuous web of the fabric to accumulate in a mass of folds in a substantially untensioned and widthwise extended state, the fabric being wet, and subjecting the fabric to rapidly reversed violent compressive force acting first in one direction and then in the opposite direction along lines predominantly parallel to the face of the web while avoiding the application of substantial force in a direction perpendicular to the face of the web, thereby to loosen the fibres of the constituent yarns.

17. That method of shrinking woven textile fabric whose constituent yarns are predominantly of vegetable origin which comprises as steps, so moving a web of the fabric into, through and out of a liquid bath as always to maintain an accumulated substantially untensioned mass of the material disposed in folds and in a substantially widthwise extended state within the bath and imparting a violent and rapid back and forth oscillatory movement to the accumulated mass in a direction substantially parallel to thefaces of the folds while keeping the liquid bath as a whole substantially stationary thereby by inertia effect to shrink the fabric.

18. That method of shrinking a woven continuous web of. fabric whose constituent yarns are substantiallyof vegetable origin which comprises as steps, delivering the fabric web and removing it from a conveying current of liquid, causing the fabric to accumulate in a loose mass in the conveying current, allowing the mass to be carried along with the current and subjecting the moving mass of fabric to rapid oscillations predominantly transverse to its path of travel with said current of liquid.

SANFORD L. CLUE'I'I. 

